Celebrate Recovery returns

Just over 17 years ago, Amanda Davis of Creston was pregnant and had 2-year-old when her husband decided to leave.

“I was crushed,” Davis said, describing crippling depression that followed.

However, life started to take a turn for the better when she accepted an invitation from friends to attend a service at Crest Baptist Church. By attending, she learned of a program – Celebrate Recovery. Members of the church felt such a program was necessary to not only help with recovery for those dealing with typical addictions, but also any other “hurts, habits or hang-ups.”

“And I was hurting, so I went and checked it out and found out that it can help with all kinds of things – abandonment issues, abuse, anger, anxiety. I mean, the list is forever long of the different things that I can help with,” said Davis.

Davis said she initially joined to the program to help herself figure out how to navigate becoming a newly divorced, single mother to two young children.

“And it helped a great deal. It’s a great support,” said Davis. “It brought me into a relationship with Christ. And now I’ve worked on many issues – codependency depression, anxiety control issues, my binge eating disorder, some self-worth issues that I’ve worked on.”

In the nearly 18 years Davis has been involved with Celebrate Recovery, not only has it helped her overcome her barriers to living a fulfilling life, but it has empowered her to help others. She now serves as the Celebrate Recovery ministry leader at Crest Baptist and as the state representative for the world-wide organization.

Davis said, as she continues to work on herself, one of the greatest lessons she’s learned through the program is how to set boundaries with others.

“I’m a happier person. I’m more content. I have more peace in my life,” she said. “And when things do get crazy, because they still continue to get crazy, even though you go through a program, I have better ways to handle it. So I can handle it better and faster now.”

Celebrate Recovery returns

After a three-year hiatus, Celebrate Recovery starts back up Tuesday. Davis hopes anyone with any kind of hurt, habit or hang-up seeking relief and freedom from their pains gives the faith-based program, which serves all people of all faiths, a shot.

While a third of Celebrate Recovery members struggle with substance and alcohol abuse issues, the rest of its members, like Davis, have goals to overcome other issues of their own.

“I don’t have trouble for drugs and alcohol at all. I went for depression and codependency when I first started,” she said.

Davis said, while each member works through the program at their own pace, they are more successful because of the support of the Celebrate Recovery community.

Members meet weekly. The meeting typically begins with some worship music and ends with fellowship and refreshments. In between, the members either work on a lesson from the program’s 12-steps or listen to testimony, before breaking in to men’s and women’s small groups.

“So each person in those groups have three to five minutes to share about what’s going on in their life or what they got out of the lesson,” Davis said.

Davis the testimony, lessons and group dynamic of Celebrate Recovery are powerful. The transformation she has witnessed in others she finds inspiring. When asked what the greatest benefit members gain from the program, Davis said, “A new life.”

“A lot of people come in and they’re very broken, whether it’s drugs and alcohol, or depression or divorce, or gambling. Whatever it is, they’re so stuck in that cycle of insanity that they can’t move forward in their life. And once you go through the program and you work on your issues, you just have that freedom to live and you have that hope,” she said.

She said, sharing the experience of recovery with others helps lifts the weight off ones shoulders.

“You don’t have secrets,” Davis said. “I mean, secrets are bad for people and they can ruin people. So if you’re upfront with stuff, you usually make better choices, helps you have healthier choices rather than the more destructive ones.”

If there’s anything Davis wants people to know about Celebrate Recovery, she wants others to know it’s for everybody.”

“I think people think, ‘Well, I’m not one of those people. I’m not a drug addict or alcoholic, so I don’t need it,’” she said. “There’s so much more. I mean, I have a short list right here in front of me of all the different things that they can help – Sexual integrity is a big issue in our country. Pornography, perfectionism, self-destruction, all of that stuff, this can help you work through, as well.”

Join Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting March 22, at Creston Baptist Church. It is limited to those age 18 years and older. Davis said a youth program is in the works.

For more information, visit www.celebraterecovery.com or attend a Celebrate Recovery gathering.